Is
‘Rare’ quite common?
I have come to the conclusion that the word ‘rare’
when applied to antiques is somewhat over-used and even more so when vendors
are describing wine labels that are being offered for sale on Ebay. Too often when having started a search for
wine labels on Ebay I find myself looking at a long list of labels many of
which are described as ‘rare’. I will therefore try to only to use the word
‘rare’ when thinking of how I like my beef cooked!
So, this blog is about two labels which I shall
describe as ‘Not often encountered’………………….
I do feel justified in using the expression ‘Not often
encountered’ in this blog because I have
searched the very fine book, ‘Wine Labels 1730-2003, A Worldwide History’ http://winelabelcircle.org/books
and barely find more than a dozen or so labels engraved
in ‘Script
lettering’ amongst the 1400 illustrated labels.
Lisbon
by Phipps/Robinson 1804
Madeira
by John Reilly 1821
Labels are usually lettered in block capitals and the
lettering either pierced or more commonly cut into the silver so that a black
wax like substance (usually referred to as niello) could be set into the gap. To
ensure the niello adhered to the silver the lettered space was roughened to
provide a key. Nowadays many labels have lost the niello and the roughened
keying is very evident. Where script lettering is used the example’s I have
seen use both upper and lower case.
I have often wondered why labels were not more often engraved
with script; the skill of engraving with fine flowing script can be seen in
many other examples of decorative household items. Clock faces are often fine
examples of script lettering where the clockmakers name and location are on a
silvered or brass plate.
Perhaps the popular niello on the silver was fashionable
or simply the most practical and black set against silver is very clear. The
first label I have shown above, Lisbon, is finely engraved and there does not seem
to be any evidence of a niello filling. However, the second label, Madeira, does
look as though there might have been a niello filling. One further thought that
has crossed my mind is that I would be surprised if the labels are isolated
examples. I am sure that they must have been part of a set and if that is the
case the respective owners would have ordered other labels in script lettering.
So, if there any collectors reading this and know of
similar labels I would be very pleased to see examples!
Ebay
update.
Of the various wine labels that have been recently listed
on Ebay I am having to concede that one label deserved to be classified as
rare. I have pasted in the listing below the photograph. Surprisingly there
were only two bidders, the winning bid was £216.99.
Antique Solid
Silver
BOTTLE LABEL
FALERNUM
Dates to about
1775
with the maker`s
mark - W.T, for
WILLIAM TURTON
An excellent,
medium large sized bottle
label with the
very rare title -
FALERNUM
Falernum is a
sweet syrup used in Caribbean and tropical
drinks. It
contains flavors of almond, ginger, lime, and
sometimes vanilla,
cloves, and allspice.
It is used in
cocktails in a manner similar to orgeat
syrup or can be
drunk on the rocks. Wikipedia
-------------
SUPERB ORIGINAL
CONDITION
NO FAULTS
------------
Width:- 47
millimetres / 1.84 inches.
Height:- 40 mms. /
1.57 ins.
Total weight:-
11.2 grams / 0.36 ounces.
A ‘Mountain’ label by Margaret Binley, (described as rare), attracted 20 bids, to see the label click on the price, below, and scroll down the new page £176.99
Two interesting 1871 labels by
William Summers, Curacoa raised £113.00 and the other label, Gin made £128.99.
To see all completed sales of silver wine labels on Ebay click here;
In my last blog I referred to a copy of ‘The Book of the Wine Label’ by
Norman Penzer that had failed to sell at £3.50 on Ebay. There at least 10
copies on offer at ‘Buy it Now’ prices on Ebay which range in price from £2.80
to £137.64………………….to see the books click here
Auctions; In
my last blog I mentioned the following sale next month, Rupert Slingsby has now
told me there are 74 lots.
Woolley
and Wallis at Salisbury are holding a silver sale on the 30th October, Rupert
Slingsby, the silver specialist at W. & W. has told me that there probably
50 lots including bin labels.
To view the labels;click here
To view the labels;click here
Stand by to bid!
Before closing I will suggest to any readers who are looking at this blog and have an interest in wine labels, you should seriously consider joining the Wine Label Circle, it is only a thirty-pound annual subscription. There is a useful website, http://winelabelcircle.org/, here you can access all the *digitized journals of the Wine Label Circle, (these date back to 1952), and perhaps best of all, there are two meetings where you can meet others with similar interests.
Of course, in addition to the above there are regular
emailed newsletter and an annual printed copy of the Wine Label Circle Journal.
Happy collecting!
